Kent Ford was born in 1943 near Maringouin, Louisiana.[1] At the age of 12 he moved to Redmond, California with his three siblings, mother, and her husband.[1][2] At the age of 18 he had his first brush with police in California when he was arrested and jailed for three days for going 60 mph in a 45 mph zone.[2] Shortly after he moved to Portland, Oregon in 1961.[1] Here he set up a candy business buying supplies wholesale and having adolescents sell door-to-door.[2]
Later lifeedit
In 1967 he took a job at Safeway as a computer operator for 104 stores.[2] The same year he returned home to find he'd been robbed, and he subsequently called the police because $1,000 was missing.[2] When the police filed their report, it wasn't about the robbery, but instead about "possible subversive subject" - which referred to Kent Ford, who at the time had large maps of Vietnam and Cambodia in his home and writings by Mao Zedong.[2] Several weeks later Ford intervened while police were arresting a man, and was subsequently arrested, assaulted, and held in jail on $80,000 bail on charges that he had incited a riot.[3] He was eventually acquitted and awarded a $6,000 settlement.[3]
Ford has three sons, James, Sekou, and Lumumba.[2]
Kent Ford at a demonstration at Reed College in June 2020.
Founding the Portland chapter of the Black Panther Partyedit
In 1968, after the shooting of Martin Luther King Jr., a group of 20 Black young adults in Portland started regularly meeting to discuss the writings of Malcolm X and other activist writers; not more than a year later, in June 1969, Kent Ford was beaten and jailed for these activities.[5] After Ford's release from jail he organized a press conference on the steps of Portland Central Precinct, then at SW Second & Oak, and proclaimed, "If they keep coming in with these fascist tactics we're going to defend ourselves."[5][2] Shortly thereafter Huey Newton invited him to form and lead a Portland chapter of the Black Panther party.[5] Approximately six members of the reading group formed Portland's chapter.[6] In total, the initial Portland Panthers had approximately 50 members, half of whom were women.[2] One of the requirements of the Black Panther party in Portland was that members read at least two hours a day.[5]
The Portland Black Panther Party was active in demonstrations against the Vietnam War.[5] They created a children's breakfast program and fed hundreds of children daily in the dining room at Highland United Church of Christ in Northeast Portland.[5] The chapter also opened and operated two medical clinics in Portland, The Malcolm X Dental Clinic and Fred Hampton Memorial People's Health Clinic.[5][4]
As of 2020, Ford was active giving historic Black Panther walking tours about six times a year.[5]
Legacyedit
In 2021, a $20,000 Community Placemaking grant was awarded by the Portland Metro Council to support a play about Ford's life and work titled, "Walking through Portland with a Panther - the life of Mr. Kent Ford, All Power".[7] A stage reading of the play was conducted in February 2022, during a three day tribute in Portland honoring Kent Ford.[8] The Vanport Mosaic and Confrontation Theatre presented the solo play in June 2022.[9]
Referencesedit
^ abcJules Boykoff; Martha Gies (2010). ""We're going to defend ourselves": The Portland Chapter of the Black Panther Party and the Local Media Response". Oregon Historical Quarterly. 111 (3): 278. doi:10.5403/oregonhistq.111.3.0278. JSTOR 10.5403/oregonhistq.111.3.0278.
^ ab"Portland has a long history of Black-white activist alliances". The Seattle Times. 2020-08-31. Retrieved 2020-09-04.
^ abBoykoff, Jules (2020-06-25). "'We Can't Be Duped by Petty Reforms': A Q&A With a Black Panther". The Nation. ISSN 0027-8378. Retrieved 2020-09-04.
^ abcdefgh"Kent Ford has advice for young activists: Read, and keep going". Real Change. Retrieved 2020-09-04.
^Rose, Joseph (2016-02-09). "Beyonce and the history of Portland's Black Panthers". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
^"2021 Community Placemaking grantees". Metro. 2021-01-11. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
^"Portland Is Filled With Black History Month Events. Here Are Six Worth Your Consideration". Willamette Week. 6 February 2022. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
^"New play celebrates Kent Ford, co-founder of Portland's Black Panther Party". opb. Retrieved 2022-06-25.
January 01, 1970
kent, ford, activist, kent, ford, born, 1943, founder, portland, chapter, black, panther, party, state, oregon, 1969, kent, fordborn1943, maringouin, louisiana, contents, early, life, later, life, founding, portland, chapter, black, panther, party, legacy, ref. Kent Ford born 1943 is a co founder of the Portland chapter of the Black Panther Party in the U S state of Oregon in 1969 Kent FordBorn1943 age 80 81 Maringouin Louisiana Contents 1 Early life 2 Later life 3 Founding the Portland chapter of the Black Panther Party 4 Legacy 5 ReferencesEarly life editKent Ford was born in 1943 near Maringouin Louisiana 1 At the age of 12 he moved to Redmond California with his three siblings mother and her husband 1 2 At the age of 18 he had his first brush with police in California when he was arrested and jailed for three days for going 60 mph in a 45 mph zone 2 Shortly after he moved to Portland Oregon in 1961 1 Here he set up a candy business buying supplies wholesale and having adolescents sell door to door 2 Later life editIn 1967 he took a job at Safeway as a computer operator for 104 stores 2 The same year he returned home to find he d been robbed and he subsequently called the police because 1 000 was missing 2 When the police filed their report it wasn t about the robbery but instead about possible subversive subject which referred to Kent Ford who at the time had large maps of Vietnam and Cambodia in his home and writings by Mao Zedong 2 Several weeks later Ford intervened while police were arresting a man and was subsequently arrested assaulted and held in jail on 80 000 bail on charges that he had incited a riot 3 He was eventually acquitted and awarded a 6 000 settlement 3 Ford has three sons James Sekou and Lumumba 2 nbsp Kent Ford at a demonstration at Reed College in June 2020 In 2020 Ford participated in protests against police brutality in Portland Oregon 4 Founding the Portland chapter of the Black Panther Party editIn 1968 after the shooting of Martin Luther King Jr a group of 20 Black young adults in Portland started regularly meeting to discuss the writings of Malcolm X and other activist writers not more than a year later in June 1969 Kent Ford was beaten and jailed for these activities 5 After Ford s release from jail he organized a press conference on the steps of Portland Central Precinct then at SW Second amp Oak and proclaimed If they keep coming in with these fascist tactics we re going to defend ourselves 5 2 Shortly thereafter Huey Newton invited him to form and lead a Portland chapter of the Black Panther party 5 Approximately six members of the reading group formed Portland s chapter 6 In total the initial Portland Panthers had approximately 50 members half of whom were women 2 One of the requirements of the Black Panther party in Portland was that members read at least two hours a day 5 The Portland Black Panther Party was active in demonstrations against the Vietnam War 5 They created a children s breakfast program and fed hundreds of children daily in the dining room at Highland United Church of Christ in Northeast Portland 5 The chapter also opened and operated two medical clinics in Portland The Malcolm X Dental Clinic and Fred Hampton Memorial People s Health Clinic 5 4 As of 2020 Ford was active giving historic Black Panther walking tours about six times a year 5 Legacy editIn 2021 a 20 000 Community Placemaking grant was awarded by the Portland Metro Council to support a play about Ford s life and work titled Walking through Portland with a Panther the life of Mr Kent Ford All Power 7 A stage reading of the play was conducted in February 2022 during a three day tribute in Portland honoring Kent Ford 8 The Vanport Mosaic and Confrontation Theatre presented the solo play in June 2022 9 References edit a b c Jules Boykoff Martha Gies 2010 We re going to defend ourselves The Portland Chapter of the Black Panther Party and the Local Media Response Oregon Historical Quarterly 111 3 278 doi 10 5403 oregonhistq 111 3 0278 JSTOR 10 5403 oregonhistq 111 3 0278 a b c d e f g h i Martha Gies March 2005 A Father s Story PDF Portland Monthly a b Portland has a long history of Black white activist alliances The Seattle Times 2020 08 31 Retrieved 2020 09 04 a b Boykoff Jules 2020 06 25 We Can t Be Duped by Petty Reforms A Q amp A With a Black Panther The Nation ISSN 0027 8378 Retrieved 2020 09 04 a b c d e f g h Kent Ford has advice for young activists Read and keep going Real Change Retrieved 2020 09 04 Rose Joseph 2016 02 09 Beyonce and the history of Portland s Black Panthers The Oregonian Retrieved 2020 06 29 2021 Community Placemaking grantees Metro 2021 01 11 Retrieved 2022 02 20 Portland Is Filled With Black History Month Events Here Are Six Worth Your Consideration Willamette Week 6 February 2022 Retrieved 2022 02 20 New play celebrates Kent Ford co founder of Portland s Black Panther Party opb Retrieved 2022 06 25 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kent Ford activist amp oldid 1214463039, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
